Meet Underground Author, Caleb Pirtle III

A group of writers known as the Underground Authors are the creative minds behind the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series. A different member of the group writes each book, and each author brings their own take on mystery and murder to this little town in the Texas Hill Country.

This month we are treated to the unique writing style of prolific, award-winning author Caleb Pirtle III. Ever since I read his book, Eulogy in Black and White, which is the second book in the Magnolia Bluff series, I've been intrigued with Mr. Pirtle's writing. I've never had a reading experience like the one he provides in his novels. It is a wonderful and satisfying experience I invite everyone to share. His prose moves at a pace that is both quick and easy to read and relaxing to the eyes all at the same time. You can't help but continue to turn the pages wanting to find out what comes next. Not a word is wasted anywhere on the page. His writing will make you sit up and think as a smile crosses your face wondering how he painted such a strong and vibrant visual in your mind with so few words. The answer? It's easy when they are the right words. And Caleb Pirtle III is a master at picking the right words.

He has written over eighty books in his career and gets better with each new story he pens. I'm a fan. I believe once you've read one of his books, you will become a fan too. 

You can find out more about Caleb and his life's work here: Author, Caleb Pirtle III

His newest, Death in the Absence of Rain: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles: book 15 releases on July 20th and is available now for pre-order.

Order it here: Death in the Absence of Rain 

Here is the blurb for the book:

In Texas, it has been a long, hot summer.

Blistering temperatures.

Scorched earth.

An empty sky.

No rain at all.

Trapped in the midst of a generational drought, the water level of Magnolia Bluff’s Burnet Reservoir begins to drop, and the ghost town of Crystalline Flats slowly comes back from the dead.

When the river was dammed to create the reservoir, the flood had overwhelmed the dying old town and left it buried underwater.

Now the ruins are rising like skeletons of stone and wood from their watery grave.

And the secrets of Crystalline Flats are secrets no longer.

They are a dreadful tale of murder.

And who lives and who will kill again to make sure the mysteries from the past remain hidden and silenced forever?

Some believe their past sins were washed away.

Now those sins are back to haunt the guilty.

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Get your copy of Caleb's other Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles book, Eulogy in Black and White by clicking here: Eulogy

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As always, I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. And of course, your thoughts and comments are always welcome. 😊

Meanwhile, you can find my books here: The Razzman Mystery Crime Files

Until next time...😎

A Few Fun Summer Reading Suggestions

If you're anything like me, you have more books sitting on your TBR (To Be Read) list than you'll be able to read in your lifetime. I know I have a crazy amount on my list. But the one thing I like to do is prioritize what I want to read at this time of the year. I'll add new titles or move books already on my list up to the top. I try to choose those I might enjoy most during the dog days of summer. 

I have compiled a few that I've enjoyed over the years that I think will provide a terrific reading experience on the beach, by the pool, or just sitting in your favorite chair with the air conditioner blowing in your face. Of course, I realize that not everyone has the same taste, but these are all good stories written by talented authors and are definitely worth reading. Who knows? You might discover something different from your norm that surprises you. 

These are just a few of my favorites. The list is made up of a couple of big-name authors and a couple of my favorite indie authors. If I put every author whose work I've loved reading on this list, it would be never ending. So, I kept it short with only eight books. I've enjoyed reading all of these and I think they are the perfect summer reads. 

If you want more information on any of the books here, just click the title and you'll find yourself on the Amazon page:

Enough Rope by Lawrence Block. This is a huge collection of short stories that features Block at his best. All his favorite characters are here - Cat burglar extraordinaire Bernie Rhodenbarr, Keller the wistful hitman, and Private Eye Matt Scudder just to name a few. This collection clocks in at just under 900 pages and it is worth spending time on each and every one of them.

Red Right Return (Buck Reilly Adventure Series book one) by John H Cunningham. I discovered this fun adventures series about ten years ago. Set in the Florida Keys, this book is filled with thrills and chills as we follow along with Buck on his treasure hunting adventures. There are ten books in the series, and all are super reads.

Festival of Death: A Justinia Wright Investigator Mystery (book one) by CW Hawes. Hawes treats the reader to some of the best character driven mysteries in the book market today. If you're a fan of Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, Marcia Muller, and Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe then you will not only love this book, but you'll love the entire series. And there are eight for you to enjoy.

The Monkey Idol: Decker & Callie Adventure by K.D. McNiven. If you enjoy high octane adventure in the spirit of Indiana Jones, this book will fit the bill and then some. A Jungle romp at its finest. I guarantee that once you've read The Monkey Idol, you will crave more of Decker & Callie. Luckily there are three books in this wonderful series with more to come.

Map of Bones: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins. This was the first book I read in this wonderful series filled with mystery, adventure, history, and sci-fi elements all blended together for hours of fascinating reading. This is book two in a series that currently spans seventeen books.

Geller's Find by Sandra Cox. Every book I've read by this author has been filled with interesting characters set inside meticulously crafted plots that together deliver some of the best stories I've read. This one blends archeology, time travel, and romance into a fun, exciting trip back to the old west. One of my favorite books by Ms. Cox.

Deadly Declarations (The Indie Retirement Mystery Series book one) by Landis Wade. This is a fun mystery that centers around an unlikely group of retirees who set out to solve a murder and a 250 yr old colonial period mystery about the disappearance of North Carolina's Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. A great murder mystery with a historical twist. 

And last but certainly not least - this is my personal favorite book for 🌞summer🌞 reading fun...

Jaws by Peter Benchley. No explanation needed for this one. This is the quintessential summer bestseller that spawned a blockbuster movie that was responsible for keeping a generation of folks out of the water back in 1975. It was a phenomenon that all started with this novel. I read this one every summer just for the fun of it. Great movie. Better book.

And there you have it. Some you may have already discovered, but maybe there's a book on this list that you haven't read yet. If that's the case, I hope you'll give it a try. These are all Joe approved and will help you survive the next few months while you're sipping a cold drink on your favorite beach, lazing out by the pool, or sitting on your front porch hoping for a cool breeze to tickle your nose.

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As always, I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. And of course, your thoughts and comments are always welcome. 😊

Meanwhile, you can find my books here: The Razzman Mystery Crime Files

Until next time...😎